Il racket dei sequestri

This is a minor lost classic of a British gangster film done in the same vein as The Sweeney, Get Carter and The Long Good Friday. It proves that it doesn't have to be American to be authentic and realistic. In fact it's the film's gritty locations which add weight to the storyline. Former Detective Inspector Naboth, now a struggling private eye who live s in the bottle is called upon when his ex-wife is kidnapped. Stacey Keach is Jim Naboth who is called upon by ex-wifes new lover Edward Fox who is blackmailed into taking part in a bank heist. Look out for the scene when Stacey Keach is wearing nothing but a shoe to cover up his manhood after being forced to hand over all his clothes to villain boss "Irish Jack" who is a sadistic thug, except when it comes to his own daughter whom he dotes upon. Another controversial scene is when Jill(Carol White) who is the ex wife of Stacey Keach is forced to do a strip in front of the gangsters who are holding her captive. She is even made to choose what music she wants to strip to for their entertainment.

Freddie Starr is excellent as "Teddy" who is a wet nurse to Stacey Keach and does his best to keep him away from the bottle and seedy pubs. The 1970's feel to this film reaches a dramatic climax towards the end when the robbery actually takes place and theres a few twists and turns in store.